Shipbucket

I like the cut of her jib, and it shows that you've taken the time to get the design right

The hull form has been defined now, and the deck lines are drawn in for the inboard profile. Each deck is one of a handful of colors; each deck will become a separate layer in the .pdn file so I can tell them apart when laid over each other.



The next step is to place the main battery. I'll either create the Outboard Profile and Main Deck layer to place them or, since 8 inch turrets are pretty big, draw the basic inner workings of the 8" turrets and barbettes on the Inboard Profile. This will probably cause some adjustment to the decks, but you'll see that in the next post.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

After two tries, I've got the 8"/55 two-gun turrets outlined and placed on the hull. Right now they are in their own layer, and the barbette outlines are on the reference lines for the deck plans. I'll probably merge them with the Inboard Profile after a few more tweaks. Now I have a good idea how much space remains for the powerplant and central station.



After this I'll start on the deck plans to ensure I have enough space for everything. I still have to place eight 6"/53 guns with their hoists, magazines and shell rooms.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Somehow it felt a little bit cramped for a ship w. 4 dual mounted 8"/55. You might want to lengthen the hull by a bit.

I had thought about that, too. The first attempt at the 8" turrets was definitely too cramped. The second try was more acceptable. I won't stretch the hull (that results in a cost overrun for the Navy) but, if it still seems too cramped I'm not afraid to scrap that layer and try again. Just one of the challenges of working with the SB scale.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

The deck plan outlines have been added as individual layers over the Inboard Profile, and the measurement outline of the conning tower has been added to the barbette outlines. Ship's curves are very hard to get right on this program.



Now I can establish the internal arrangement inside the hull for 8" powder magazines, spaces for the turbo-electric powerplant, and the 6" ammunition spaces. I'll also be able to flesh out 6"/53 gun placement, sketch the superstructure and put placeholders in for the funnels after drawing the powerplant.

Adjustments may be needed here to make the design work. I've got a feeling I will have to get creative with the bridgework.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Redhorse let me first say I am a big fan of your excellent, thorough, and all around great work. I have one question though, why 6"/53? I ask this because I am not aware of any RL designs that use both 8" and 6", I am not saying there is anything wrong with such a combination, but if no one did it in RL, or at least not commonly, there might be a good reason for that. For example, and this is simply pure speculation, the splashes of each shell might be similar, causing aiming problems for the gunners similar to what pre-dreadnoughts experienced. Now thats just a wild guess, but just food for thought about using such a combo and not a 5"/8" instead. You probably have a very good reason, such as the 6" is widely used by your navy, to use your combination of guns, that I am simply ignorant to.

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Projects:
Zealandia AU
John Company AU
References and feedback is always welcome!

I would have to agree with Trojan on those raised points. The 8in and 6in serve the same role and are so similar in caliber that distinguishing fall of shot would be tricky if not impossible at longer ranges. The 6in gun is far too heavy and slow to be used as an AA weapon so that only leaves a surface role. Something better suited to the 8in guns she's already carrying. I'd recommend either a 4 or 5 in secondary battery instead. The 4 inch has the benefit of having light enough shells to be handled by crew that you don't necessarily need deck and hoist mounts for them though their stopping power against surface targets isn't as great as the 5in.

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"

Excellent points. I agree with every one of them. Here's the backstory on the 6"/53:

Right now the standard AA weapon for Texas is the 3"/50. It's considered sufficient for now.

The concept of a dual-purpose battery hasn't quite caught on yet. The 5"/25 was available at this time, but the Naval Staff considers it too heavy for just AA use. And the navy will learn the hard way about the splash issue. The 5"/38 doesn't come into service until 1934, and ships designed for this period will use them in a dual purpose role.

Subsequent refits will trade out 6"/53s on the Rio Grande and replace them with 5"/38s in single mounts. Similar replacements will be made on the Austin Class Battleships, Nueces and Pecos Class Light Cruisers, and the Hallettsville Destroyers. I used to hold on to ships for 30 years, but naval developments have been so fast that I've had to scrap them at 20 years (which evidently, happened to a lot of navies in those days). So you may see extensive refits or new classes altogether if the hull won't take the changes.

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Redhorse

Current Projects:
Republic of Texas Navy
FD Scale F-14s

Sounds like a sensible progression. I'm doing much the same with one of the pre-WW1 vessels of the SRN still in service during the 30s which went through much the same as the threat shifted from the sea to the air and dual purpose guns grew in favour of dedicated batteries.

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"The first rule is not to lose; The second rule is not to forget the first rule"